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Looking for some advice. I am interested in getting a 1911. Never had one. I shoot Glocks mostly. I am looking for a very reliable, full size, tactical (fixed sights, rail nice but not a must) 1911 that will be a gun that I can use both for carry and practical competitions. I have looked into some of the custom shops and frankly am not sure I am ready to pay $5K and up for a gun. I don't want to put any price caps on recommendations but would prefer a gun that is less than $2,500.
All suggestions are appreciated.
Best Tactical 1911
MultiQuote
#2
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Posted 17 November 2009 - 07:44 AM
Buy an off the shelf gun like a Springfield TRP or get a 'smith like Benny Hill or Virgil Tripp to build you what you need. They are great 'smiths and builders and they don't charge $5000 for what you just mentioned.
TEAM FIREBIRD
#3
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Posted 17 November 2009 - 07:45 AM
Check out the STI pistols http://shootersconne...-Guns-C188.aspx 
IMHO, the most bang
for the buck.
A.T.
IMHO, the most bang
for the buck.A.T.
Age, skill, wisdom and a little treachery always overcomes youth and arrogance!
#4
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Posted 17 November 2009 - 08:04 AM
Consider Benny Hill... another option would be Baer.
big_kahuna
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Click here to see my kid's USPSA Classifications
Proud parent of a Rudy Project Shooting Team member
benny hill, on Feb 8 2008, 12:37 PM, said:
Get the light gun, you will end up there anyway, so you can shoot both. Remember light is fast, heavy is slow.
Click here to see my kid's USPSA Classifications
#6
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Posted 17 November 2009 - 08:29 AM
Baer...... 
Don't argue with an idiot,people watching may not be able to tell the difference. G'
SSES member #50,matches my age....rock on !!
You may disappoint me but that only means we adjust fire and go in another direction.
I will continue to shoot in the men's division, win, lose, or draw. The Wildman. CDP MASTER :Stanley K Smith 1/22/09 may you "RIP"
"Patriotism means to stand by the country. It does not mean to stand by the president...." --Theodore Roosevelt
SSES member #50,matches my age....rock on !!
You may disappoint me but that only means we adjust fire and go in another direction.
I will continue to shoot in the men's division, win, lose, or draw. The Wildman. CDP MASTER :Stanley K Smith 1/22/09 may you "RIP"
"Patriotism means to stand by the country. It does not mean to stand by the president...." --Theodore Roosevelt
#7
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Posted 17 November 2009 - 08:31 AM
Les Baer.
Pride and fear are emotions, which hope for an outcome. Outcomes take your attention from the present, where the shooting happens, to the future. It is totally impossible to do anything in the future, because it hasn't happened yet. The key to shooting your best is to be present as the witness of the shooting. Do not judge, do not give yourself anything to live up to. We can only shoot as well as we have trained ourselves to shoot. To try to shoot only induces stress. Be content with your current ability. And accumulate practice to improve that ability. Consolidate, build strength where you feel weakness. We cannot raise our ability until we accept our current limitations. Practice dissolves limitations. Matches simply define where the current limits exist. The game of shooting is all about redefining our limits.
- Sam
Amateurs do it til they get it right. Professionals do it til they can't get it wrong.
"It's not the will to win that matters - everyone has that. It's the will to prepare to win that matters."
- Paul "Bear" Bryant
"The only reason why Everest is the highest mountain ever climbed is because it's the highest. If there was one higher, I bet there'd be people trying to climb it."
- Jack Barnes
- Sam
Amateurs do it til they get it right. Professionals do it til they can't get it wrong.
"It's not the will to win that matters - everyone has that. It's the will to prepare to win that matters."
- Paul "Bear" Bryant
"The only reason why Everest is the highest mountain ever climbed is because it's the highest. If there was one higher, I bet there'd be people trying to climb it."
- Jack Barnes
#8
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Posted 17 November 2009 - 10:07 AM
No rails: STI Lawman
W/ rails: STI Duty One
or
No rails: Springfield TRP
W/ rails: Springfield Operator or TRP w/ rails
BUT
A that kind of money can buy you a nice custom build.
W/ rails: STI Duty One
or
No rails: Springfield TRP
W/ rails: Springfield Operator or TRP w/ rails
BUT
A that kind of money can buy you a nice custom build.
This post has been edited by Nemo: 17 November 2009 - 10:22 AM
DVC
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TY-32791
President Southeast Practical Shooters Association
Freedom Gunworks Team Member
SSES-15
Visit SONS OF NEMO PARACORD WORKS and our sponsors Speed Shooter Specialties and Freedom Gunworks,
and remember THE REAL WORLD IS COMSTOCK.
May 2008
N
TY-32791
President Southeast Practical Shooters Association
Freedom Gunworks Team Member
SSES-15
Visit SONS OF NEMO PARACORD WORKS and our sponsors Speed Shooter Specialties and Freedom Gunworks,
and remember THE REAL WORLD IS COMSTOCK.
May 2008
#9
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Posted 17 November 2009 - 10:17 AM
bofe954, on Nov 17 2009, 08:12 AM, said:
If I wanted to spend $2500 on a factory gun, Les Baer, Wilson, Ed Brown, Springfield Custom would come to mind.
If I had $2500 to spend on a do it all 1911 I would get an STI Lawman or Duty One and put $1000 back in the bank...
Second to that you can have Benny build you an awful lot of gun for $2500
Team FIREBIRD
A friend of mine told me "Your work has really made you cynical" my reply was "Cynical.....I passed cynical five years ago....I now live in reality"
Considering the amount of fancy equipment now seen in competition, some readers have complained loudly that the 'average guy' does not have a chance. It might be pointed out that this average guy never has had a chance. Competition is held to determine what is best, not what is average. And if all the equipment were standardized, the man who won would still not be in any sense average.
The Mondays
A friend of mine told me "Your work has really made you cynical" my reply was "Cynical.....I passed cynical five years ago....I now live in reality"
Considering the amount of fancy equipment now seen in competition, some readers have complained loudly that the 'average guy' does not have a chance. It might be pointed out that this average guy never has had a chance. Competition is held to determine what is best, not what is average. And if all the equipment were standardized, the man who won would still not be in any sense average.
The Mondays
#11
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Posted 17 November 2009 - 10:46 AM
I would look into the STI Tactical, you might as well get a double stack, I have the compact version and carry and shoot matches with it
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#13
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Posted 17 November 2009 - 01:07 PM
Seems like a lot of people like the STI guns. Having not shot any of their guns what is the thought relative to single vs double stack models? I like the Lawman but the Edge and Tactial 5.0 also look interesting.
Preferences? Reliability of double stacks??
Preferences? Reliability of double stacks??
#14
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Posted 17 November 2009 - 02:46 PM
I have a springer TRP with a rail and it finished top 50 at Single Stack nats after a barrel change to make it legal via the previous owner. Its tight and is accurate...BUT if I had 2500 bucks to spend I would have a smith make it EXACTLY the way I wanted it. You could get a Springfield Pro but you get just that and don't really have any say as to the parts used. I would call up Benny and have him make you a awesome gun!
Rudy Project USA Shooting Team
Corey Estill
USPSA: A-57351
IDPA: A26629
My youtube videos
DVC is a three legged stool. Remove one leg and you're just left with a pile of sticks.
Corey Estill
USPSA: A-57351
IDPA: A26629
My youtube videos
DVC is a three legged stool. Remove one leg and you're just left with a pile of sticks.
#15
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Posted 17 November 2009 - 04:20 PM
Nemo, on Nov 17 2009, 12:07 PM, said:
No rails: STI Lawman
W/ rails: STI Duty One
or
No rails: Springfield TRP
W/ rails: Springfield Operator or TRP w/ rails
BUT
A that kind of money can buy you a nice custom build.
W/ rails: STI Duty One
or
No rails: Springfield TRP
W/ rails: Springfield Operator or TRP w/ rails
BUT
A that kind of money can buy you a nice custom build.
I don't think any of those Springers top $1500....can't get a custom build for that no matter where you go. Even $2500 is going to be tight depending on the finish and if it's built with the best parts (rather than just OK parts). R,
Bart AKA "Bulldozer"
TY23298
SOB #8 The Selfincriminator
Never argue with an idiot. They'll just drag you down to their level and beat you with experience!
TY23298
SOB #8 The Selfincriminator
Never argue with an idiot. They'll just drag you down to their level and beat you with experience!
#16
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Posted 17 November 2009 - 04:33 PM
steel1212, on Nov 17 2009, 04:46 PM, said:
You could get a Springfield Pro but you get just that and don't really have any say as to the parts used.
Having handled and shot more than a few Springfield Professional Models, I would buy a TRP and save the cash....and my price on a Professional isn't much more than normal street price on a TRP. R,
Bart AKA "Bulldozer"
TY23298
SOB #8 The Selfincriminator
Never argue with an idiot. They'll just drag you down to their level and beat you with experience!
TY23298
SOB #8 The Selfincriminator
Never argue with an idiot. They'll just drag you down to their level and beat you with experience!
#17
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Posted 17 November 2009 - 06:46 PM
+1 on the Springfiels TRP. The Pro is a great gun but I would reccomend shopping around for a good used one as the price of a new and the wait are crazy. Got mine for 1500.00 and the TRP for 800.00 both from GunBroker. IMHO
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Posted 17 November 2009 - 07:28 PM
I recently decided to buy a 1911. I went with a springfield loaded. I didn't have as much to spend. In the two local matches i've used it in I only had one or two minor issues. Not bad for straight out of the box. Now I need to optimise it for dual roles of competition and carry. My point being that if your willing to do a little here and more there over time you don't have to go broke right out of the gate.
any suggetions for making a springfield a good dual role 1911 are welcome on my end.
any suggetions for making a springfield a good dual role 1911 are welcome on my end.
All right you primitive screw heads listen up. This is my BOOM stick!- Bruce Campbell as Ash in The Army Of Darkness.
#20
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Posted 17 November 2009 - 09:36 PM
G-ManBart, on Nov 17 2009, 06:20 PM, said:
Nemo, on Nov 17 2009, 12:07 PM, said:
No rails: STI Lawman
W/ rails: STI Duty One
or
No rails: Springfield TRP
W/ rails: Springfield Operator or TRP w/ rails
BUT
A that kind of money can buy you a nice custom build.
W/ rails: STI Duty One
or
No rails: Springfield TRP
W/ rails: Springfield Operator or TRP w/ rails
BUT
A that kind of money can buy you a nice custom build.
I don't think any of those Springers top $1500....can't get a custom build for that no matter where you go. Even $2500 is going to be tight depending on the finish and if it's built with the best parts (rather than just OK parts). R,
I was referring to the kind of money he's established as his limit, the $2500. Those may not buy the holy grail of 1911's (whatever that is) but I'm sure that if we call Benny, Matt, Dan, Derek, et. al. and ask "what's the best skinny gun you can build me for $2500?", I'm positive we won't be dissapointed with the end product.
Both my Springfields are tweaked loadeds. I really don't know the difference between the Pro and the TRP, just pointed them out to Wolfie for him to do the research. If the $2500 were mine I'd go with one of the STIs, a bullet feeder and PRIMERS.
DVC
N
TY-32791
President Southeast Practical Shooters Association
Freedom Gunworks Team Member
SSES-15
Visit SONS OF NEMO PARACORD WORKS and our sponsors Speed Shooter Specialties and Freedom Gunworks,
and remember THE REAL WORLD IS COMSTOCK.
May 2008
N
TY-32791
President Southeast Practical Shooters Association
Freedom Gunworks Team Member
SSES-15
Visit SONS OF NEMO PARACORD WORKS and our sponsors Speed Shooter Specialties and Freedom Gunworks,
and remember THE REAL WORLD IS COMSTOCK.
May 2008
#21
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Posted 17 November 2009 - 09:58 PM
Nemo, on Nov 17 2009, 11:36 PM, said:
I was referring to the kind of money he's established as his limit, the $2500. Those may not buy the holy grail of 1911's (whatever that is) but I'm sure that if we call Benny, Matt, Dan, Derek, et. al. and ask "what's the best skinny gun you can build me for $2500?", I'm positive we won't be dissapointed with the end product.
Both my Springfields are tweaked loadeds. I really don't know the difference between the Pro and the TRP, just pointed them out to Wolfie for him to do the research. If the $2500 were mine I'd go with one of the STIs, a bullet feeder and PRIMERS.
Both my Springfields are tweaked loadeds. I really don't know the difference between the Pro and the TRP, just pointed them out to Wolfie for him to do the research. If the $2500 were mine I'd go with one of the STIs, a bullet feeder and PRIMERS.
Gotcha. $2500 would be doable, but it could get close if you go with hard chrome or Ion Bond for a finish.
The TRP is a production gun they crank out in volume. The Pro is hand built in the Custom Shop, and only as part of a run of FBI guns. They have a few different parts (like a Nowlin barrel), but more than anything you're paying for the hand fit/finish. They do runs of them from time to time and there are only a few left over that don't go to the Bureau so that keeps the price high (street price of $2700+)....and the wait to get one long.
Bart AKA "Bulldozer"
TY23298
SOB #8 The Selfincriminator
Never argue with an idiot. They'll just drag you down to their level and beat you with experience!
TY23298
SOB #8 The Selfincriminator
Never argue with an idiot. They'll just drag you down to their level and beat you with experience!
#22
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Posted 17 November 2009 - 10:03 PM
G-ManBart, on Nov 17 2009, 06:33 PM, said:
steel1212, on Nov 17 2009, 04:46 PM, said:
You could get a Springfield Pro but you get just that and don't really have any say as to the parts used.
Having handled and shot more than a few Springfield Professional Models, I would buy a TRP and save the cash....and my price on a Professional isn't much more than normal street price on a TRP. R,
Thats good to know since I have the TRP that I got for not much more than a new loaded price lol.
This post has been edited by steel1212: 17 November 2009 - 10:03 PM
Rudy Project USA Shooting Team
Corey Estill
USPSA: A-57351
IDPA: A26629
My youtube videos
DVC is a three legged stool. Remove one leg and you're just left with a pile of sticks.
Corey Estill
USPSA: A-57351
IDPA: A26629
My youtube videos
DVC is a three legged stool. Remove one leg and you're just left with a pile of sticks.
#23
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Posted 17 November 2009 - 10:08 PM
There was one in the latest American Rifleman ~$2295 An advertisement for a 1 of 1000
It is a Colt...with gold...gold...uhh...rattlesnakes on the slide...it comes with genuine rattle snake hide grips (and another set for tactical use)..and gold grip screws, hammer, etc...
I think I just threw up a little. Maybe I should put this is a hate thread. You really HAVE to read the ad copy to believe it.
<drift off>
Yes you CAN get a nice 1911 for $2500...good luck.
An advertisement for a 1 of 1000It is a Colt...with gold...gold...uhh...rattlesnakes on the slide...it comes with genuine rattle snake hide grips (and another set for tactical use)..and gold grip screws, hammer, etc...
I think I just threw up a little. Maybe I should put this is a hate thread. You really HAVE to read the ad copy to believe it.<drift off>
Yes you CAN get a nice 1911 for $2500...good luck.
#25
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Posted 18 November 2009 - 06:59 AM
Three Les Baers, one Wilson, and a STI Lawman. Each is a great pistol. All have been reliable 100%. The STI stunned me with the accuracy. The STI Lawman is the least expensive of those I mentioned.
Everyone of the pistols above would be a great choice and I would be happy with any of them.
Everyone of the pistols above would be a great choice and I would be happy with any of them.
Only Accurate Guns are Interesting!